Means for preparing meat for market



R. w. JOHNS HEARS FOR PREPARING MEAT FOR MARKET Filed April 10. 1929 March 15, 1932.

Patented Mar. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROY w. Joints, or CHICAGO, I LmoIs, ASSIGNOB 'ro SWIFT. AND comm, or

omcaeo, ILLINOIS, a CORPORATION or ILLINOIS MEANS FOR PREPARING MEAT FOB MARKET Application filed April 10,1929. Serial m5. 353,993.

This invention relates to the preparation of meats for the market and particularly to the forming and fixing of meat cuts in standard, conventional shapes.

The objects of my invention are to. providev an improved method and means by which meats may be completely enclosed While.being fixed in a predetermined shape by chilling to provide improved means of standardized contour and dimensions causing the meat to assume a certain desired form as exemplified by the shape of the best cuts of similar type.

In the accompanyin drawings I v have illustrated a specific em odiment of my invention, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of a meat chilhn device showing an improved mold suspende therein.

Fig. 2 is a perspective of a mold embodying my invention.

' Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Tn the form shown my improved mold comprises sheet metal or other suitable rigid material which will resist the actions of brine solutions. The body '1 of the mold is shaped to conform with the rounded side of that portion of a carcass from which steaks are cut, and the end 2 of the mold is shaped to conform with a cross section of such a part of a carcass. .Molds of various other shapes simulating other out of meat may be used.

.The front edge of the mold is provided with a lip 3 and brackets 5 and 6 are secured to the rear edge thereof as shown in Figs. 2

and 3. The brackets 5 and 6 are arranged near the top of the mold so as to support the same in suspended relation in a brine receptacle 4. The brine receptacle or'trough 4 is provided at one end wit a brine inlet 7, and at its other end with an outlet 8, by means of which the circulation of a cooling medium is effected. Theimolds extend into the path of the brine and come-in actual contact therewith. A cover 9 is pivotally attachedto the upper rear edge of the body of the mold by hinge elements 10 and 11 through whicha pintle 12 extends. The cover 9 is provided with spaced slots 13 for receiving ring memcopending application of Paul Smith, Serial bers '14 swiveled in the lip 3 of the body of i the mold. The slots 13 extend transversely of the cover and are of sufficient length to allow insertion of the rings 14 therethrough.- The rings may be turned crosswise relative to the slots after insertion therethrough, for holding the cover 9 in closed position.

The cover 9 is formed to impart a redetermined shape to the. upper surface 0 the meat and to wedgingly urge the meat downwardly into the body of the mold when it is rotated to closed position, thus firmly pressing the surfaces of the meat into conformity with the shape of the mold.

The cooling medium receptacle 4 may be made of any desired length for simultaneously chilling a plurality of filled molds. In carrying out the invention, the cut of meat is made from the carcass in the usual way and of a length approximating the length of the mold. This cut is then placed in the mold and compressed to conform to the mold by forcing down and latchin the cover. of the mold. The mold'shapes t e cut to conformwith similar cuts made from, choice animals and the freezing operation fixes fit in this conformation. Themold also permits of assembling a number of smaller pieces of meat into a unitary whole as described in the No. 387,661,fi ed August 22, 1929. After the 9 meat has been chilled, when it' is fixed in the shape imparted to it,-the'mold'may be removed from the receptacle 4.- and dipped in warm water for breaking theadhesion Between the meat and the surfaces of the mold,

andflpermitting'its removal therefrom. The

mol may be inverted after the cover 9 has been released and-opened for removing the meat.

Although but one specific embodiment of my invention has been herein. shown, and described, it will be understood that details of the construction me be altered or omitted without departing rom the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claim.

A mold conforming inshape to conventional cuts of meat'customary in the meat packing industry, saidmold eomprisingw 10c plurality of sections, said sections being shaped to conform to diflerent sides of conventional cuts of meat, means for securing the sections together for the purpose of forc- 5 ing meat in the mold into standardized form for chilling, the meeting edges of the sections of the mold at one side thereof being extended to form-a supporting flange to rest upon one wall of a refrigerant receptacle, and brackets 10 located at the opposite side of the mold and I carriedib'y one of the sections thereof for engaging the wall of the refrigerant receptacle or suspendin the mold therein.

Signed at hicago this 4th day of April,

ROY W. JOHNS. 

